EPA and partner organizations across the country are developing a national pilot program that will recognize community planning and development activities that improve quality of life for older adults in U.S. counties, cities and towns, the agency announced Sept. 26. The goal of the program is to raise awareness about the importance of linking Smart Growth with the need for older adults to be physically active. For more information, link to Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging.

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A new publication on the benefits of Smart Growth has been issued by Smart Growth Network under agreement with the International City/County Managment Association and EPA. The publication provides examples of communities that have used smart growth techniques to improve the quality of development. For more information, access This Is Smart Growth.

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A report issued in August 2006 by the International Economic Development Council provides eight case studies on communities that incorporated smart growth principles in their development projects and have experienced economic development improvements in the form of increased tax revenue, more jobs, higher income levels, downtown revitalization, business growth, and other indicators of economic success. For more information, access Economic Development and Smart Growth.

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A National Cooperative Highway Research Program report addressing the role of state transportation agencies in supporting transit-oriented development was issued on March 8. The report defines TOD, provides an overview of its benefits, and discusses reasons why state DOTs may have an interest in supporting TOD; provides an overview of municipal practices that support TOD and discusses why public sector intervention is needed; describes activities that have recently been undertaken or planned by state DOTs to directly or indirectly support local TOD implementation efforts; and presents recommendations for how state DOTs can more actively support TOD through their policies, programs, and projects. For more information, link to: The Role of State DOTs in Support of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).

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EPA is seeking applications for the 2006 Smart Growth Achievement Awards. Applications are due on May 1 and will be accepted in five categories: built projects, policies and regulations, small communities, equitable development, and overall excellence in smart growth.  For more information, link to EPA’s Smart Growth Achievement Awards Web site. (2/24/06)

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A Jan. 2006 EPA report reviews strategies for communities related to parking, including a discussion of the demand for and costs of parking, and successful case studies. To access the report, see Parking Spaces/Community Places: Finding the Balance through Smart Growth Solutions [PDF 3.43mb]

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The winners of EPA’s 2005 National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement were announced on Nov. 15. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in smart growth by tribal, local, or regional governments in five categories: overall excellence, built projects, policies and regulations, small communities, and military base redevelopment. Get more information and descriptions on EPA's 2005 Smart Growth Awards.

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Three former governors on July 12 joined to launch the Governors' Institute on Community Design, with financial support from EPA and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Institute -- announced by Christie Whitman (New Jersey--also former EPA Administrator), Parris Glendening (Maryland) and Angus King (Maine) -- will be administered by the Smart Growth Leadership Institute and the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education, both at the University of Maryland. According to EPA, the Institute will conduct up to four workshops in the next year "to pair governors and their cabinets with top planning experts to identify strategies that spur smarter development -- development that serves the economy, public health and the environment." The institute also will offer advice on technical issues and a develop a range of policy options for governors to consider. Get more information.

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The Environmental Protection Agency announced July 7 that five communities will receive technical assistance from a team of private sector national experts in planning for future growth. EPA said it will direct ICF Consulting to organize multi-disciplinary teams to provide the communities with tools and resources to find innovative ways of sustaining environmentally-sensitive growth and economic progress. The following communities were chosen: College Park, Md.; Taos, N.M.; Cheyenne, Wyo.; Aquidneck Island, R. I.; and McCall, Idaho. Get more information.

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FHWA's Office of Planning, Environment & Realty has launched a new, interactive Web-based geographic information system (GIS) on its Web site. The HEPGIS provides users access to important transportation-related geo-spatial data using only their web browser. The Web site includes simple navigation tools that enable users to locate a specific geographic area of interest and to create a map showing various geographic features and themes, such as income by Census Tract. Users can also obtain specific information about a feature, and can print or save an electronic copy of the map they create. Get more information.

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The Federal Highway Administration has posted a Land Use Tool Kit as a feature on its Web site. The agency said the site is designed to provide "a user-friendly, web-based source of methods, strategies, and procedures for integrating land use and transportation planning, decision-making, and project implementation." It includes 30 tools with implementation examples, case studies, and links to publications and Web sites. View the Tool Kit.

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A National Cooperative Highway Program report identifies and evaluates various indicators of the impacts of transit-oriented development. More information is available at the following link: NCHRP Research Results Digest 294: Transit-Oriented Development: Developing a Strategy to Measure Success.

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A report documenting the winners and notable practices in AASHTO's 2004 Best Practices in Smart Growth and Transportation competition has been published and posted on the Center for Environmental Excellence Web site. The three overall winners were Maryland’s West Hyattsville Transit Oriented Development Strategy, Vermont’s Interstate Interchange Planning Initiative; and California’s program to institutionalize context sensitive solutions. Notable practices included the 28th Street South Design and Construction Project, Boulder, Colo.; the Anacostia River Revitalization/South Capitol Gateway and Corridor Study, Washington, D.C.; Hillsborough Street Partnership, Raleigh, North Carolina; High Street Cap, Columbus, Ohio; Idaho's Statewide Transportation Visioning Process; New Jersey's Integrated Transportation and Land Use Program; and Pennsylvania's Action Plan on Transportation and Land Use for Economic Development. View the report. [PDF 2.94mb]

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A report documenting the proceedings of the 2002 conference titled "Providing a Transportation System to Support Smart Growth: Issues, Practice and Implementation," has been published by the Transportation Research Board. The conference, held in Baltimore, was sponsored by TRB committees and co-sponsored by Maryland State Highway Administration, Morgan State University, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and AASHTO. View the proceedings. [PDF 1.85mb]

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Applications for EPA's fourth annual Smart Growth Achievement Awards are being accepted until May 18. The agency said the competition is open to local or state governments and other public sector entities that have used the principles of smart growth to create better places. Get more information on the award.

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A Web site on scenario planning has been launched by FHWA to share best practices, resources and contacts. According to the agency, scenario planning "provides a framework for developing a shared vision for the future by analyzing various forces (e.g., health, transportation, economic, environmental, land use, etc.) that affect growth." FHWA said the practice can be done at the statewide level or for metropolitan regions. Scenario planning actively involves the public, businesses and government officials to evaluate various future alternatives that meet state and community needs. View the site.

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